igneous
Granite
Phaneritic Igneous Rock (Granite)
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Salt-and-pepper (white, grey, black). Luster: Vitreous to dull. Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystalline texture. Cleavage: Indistinct on the rock as a whole.
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Salt-and-pepper (white, grey, black)
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Salt-and-pepper (white, grey, black). Luster: Vitreous to dull. Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained) crystalline texture. Cleavage: Indistinct on the rock as a whole.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface. High in silica and alkali metal oxides. Commonly formed in continental crust during orogenic (mountain-building) events.
Uses & applications
Extensively used in construction (countertops, flooring, monuments) and as crushed stone for road base. Higher quality specimens are polished for architectural decorative elements.
Geological facts
Granite is the most common plutonic rock in Earth's crust. It makes up the core of many mountain ranges, including the Sierra Nevada in California and the White Mountains in New Hampshire.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its coarse, interlocking grains of quartz (clear/grey) and feldspar (white/pink) with flecks of mica (black). Commonly found in eroded mountainous regions or as river-tumbled pebbles.
